Make this simple weeknight pasta when you have a bounty of summer squash. With just 10 ingredients, it's fresh, bright & satisfying.

You still have tons of zucchini right? Ok, I thought so, just checking. If you don’t, you can use this recipe as a template for whatever vegetable you do have (ie. broccoli would be delicious here). It’s a straight-forward simple pasta recipe – perfect for highlighting a special seasonal ingredient like summer squash.

My zucchini and yellow summer squash were on the small side, so I sliced them into thin little coins and paired them with orecchiette pasta. I like how the shape of the summer squash and the shape of the pasta are somewhat similar. It makes for a nice “easy-to-get-it-all-on-your-fork” sort of texture.

Rosemary isn’t super summery, but it’s what I had on hand and it’s flavor contrasts the lemon nicely. If you’ve been more successful with your herb-growing, feel free to switch it up – thyme, basil, or mint would all be delicious here. If you use leafy herbs, just be sure to add them closer to the end so they stay fresh and bright.

This lemony summer squash pasta is a great easy summer meal! If you don't have summer squash on hand, another seasonal vegetable would be equally delicious.

Author: Jeanine Donofrio

Recipe type: Main dish

Serves: 3

Ingredients

3 small summer squash (or 2 medium)

8 ounces orecchiette pasta

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, more for drizzling

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary

2 cups chopped spinach or (or chard or kale)

Juice of ½ lemon, more to taste

⅓ cup feta cheese

2 tablespoons capers

A few pinches red pepper flakes

grated Parmesan cheese, optional

Sea salt & fresh black pepper

Instructions

Thinly slice squash, about ⅛ inch thick (on a mandoline if you have one). Lay squash slices on a towel and pat dry.

Cook the pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente.

In a large skillet heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and rosemary. Stir until fragrant, then add the sliced squash, salt and pepper. Stir, then let the squash cook on each side until lightly browned.

Stir in the lemon juice, then add the spinach and toss. Add the pasta along with a bit of the starchy pasta cooking water.

Stir in feta, capers and red pepper flakes. Season to taste and add Parmesan cheese, more lemon juice, and drizzles of olive oil, as desired.

i don’t have summer squash, but i have about one thousand million trillion gazillion billion buttercup squashes that are taking over my entire yard, it is insane and i am afraid for the day that they will all be ripe at the exact same time. putting this recipe in my back pocket until then. i love me some orecchiette 🙂

Daughter is 8, and she refuses to try new things. So I find myself lying sort of frequently when it comes to food. Sweet potatoes are called carrots, potatoes are just starch (cheese covered, seasoned, etc) and squash is either starch or cheese, depending on the dish. I hope this doesn’t turn out to be a bad decision in the future. O.o

I don’t usually comment and I can’t even remember how I found this recipe. I will say – thank you, it was wonderful and will soon be a summertime staple in my he. My sons are polishing off whatever’s left out there as I type. Wouldn’t change a thing. The added lemon and parm at the end, coupled with a little crushed reds and peppers made for an impressive presentation. Wow!

I don’t usually comment and I can’t even remember how I found this recipe. I will say – thank you, it was wonderful and will soon be a summertime staple in my home. My sons are polishing off whatever’s left out there as I type. Wouldn’t change a thing. The added lemon and parm at the end, coupled with a little crushed reds and pepper made for an impressive presentation. Wow!

Thank you so much! The butternut squash one looks fabulous. I am such an orchette freak so I will just use that shape:) Love all your recipes so much they always turn out so well my boyfriend thinks I am a great cook but I keep telling him no I am just good at replicating Love and Lemons:)